Management Pilot Question

[bumbulbi]

How does one typically become a management pilot at an airline/operator?
(a pilot but also part of management)

I'm going to college soon, and I was wondering if I got a degree in Labor Relations (negotiating union contracts, etc, etc) would help boost my chances at becoming a management pilot (considering the fact that I graduated college 4 years later and then worked for around 3-5 years as a labor relations/HR specialist and THEN became a pilot)

Thanks!

[vserian]

I know many management pilots who are not even graduates, its mostly the experience that counts (and sometimes politics). but if you have some master degree then it will also be a great advantage.

[bumbulbi]

I see, but that is India right?

Perhaps I should add:

How does one become a management pilot in the USA?

[lander66]

Well in the US you need a degree just to be a pilot with a major carrier right? So I'm assuming a degree in management or a business related degree would help, perhaps a degree in some form of aviation study would be most beneficial.

Other than that as the previous poster said you will need seniority within your airline and vast experience.

But I'm not from the USA so someone else may have a better answer for you.

[RTO]

In Europe these positions usually attract the wrong people for the wrong reasons. Usually goes the biggest brown nose that do not enjoy flying.

[Northbeach]

If you want such a position with say Delta out of Atlanta, you need to be on the seniority list. Under most cases you would need to get hired as a line pilot first.

From there it takes you networking and making your desire and interest known. Typically management pilots are found in the training department and flight operations; instructor pilots, assistant and chief pilots. With your studies in labor relations it would be unusual for you to work in a management capacity in the company’s labor department overseeing contracts and negotiations and then make an occasional foray into line flying.

Nobody is going to touch the controls on a revenue flight unless they are a fully qualifier line pilot first, there is no management short cut or special dispensation at an airline like Delta. **I don't work at Delta, the poster is from "Atlanta", so if my "facts" are wrong about Delta please correct me.**

Most line pilots, me included, would take a second puzzled look at somebody who walks in the door and says “Hey I’m here and I want to be a management pilot”. There are numerous good people working for management, and there are some real losers. Unfortunately it becomes an “us” verses them “situation”; it’s the nature of big business, human ego & ambition and the realities of limited resources.

[deltahotel]

Why on earth would you want to?

[galaxy flyer]

This is scary--someone with a career goal to be a management pilot! Generally, I think, guys become pilots, gain experience and show an ability to be a management pilot. Yes, in the US, one has to be on the seniority list, usually in a Captain's seat first.

[parabellum]

Management pilots are like seagulls, if you want them to fly you have to throw rocks at them!

[bumbulbi]

Thanks everybody for replying!

I do not mean that that is my career goal, I was simply wondering what it takes to be a pilot in that position. I'd be ecstatic if I could just fly!

[Northbeach]

Management pilots are like seagulls, if you want them to fly you have to throw rocks at them!






.................. Beautifully funny....................

[Papari21]

I am sorry guys this question is pretty irrelavant, but do you guys know if there are any schools, programs in South Germany regarding, tower control or air traffic control??:(

[DBate]

I am sorry guys this question is pretty irrelavant, but do you guys know if there are any schools, programs in South Germany regarding, tower control or air traffic control??http://images.ibsrv.net/ibsrv/res/src:www.pprune.org/get/images/smilies/sowee.gif

Off topic, but AFAIK all ATC training in Germany is done via the 'Deutsche Flugsicherung - DFS'. No private schools for ATC jobs existant - at least none I have ever heard of.

Now... back to topic ;)